Release builds target Linux x86_64/ARM64 and macOS ARM64. On macOS Intel, build from source. On Windows, use WSL2.

Install the latest release

curl --fail --location https://c3pm.dev/install.sh | sh -

The installer selects the native asset by OS and architecture, verifies its checksum, and puts c3pm in ~/.local/bin by default. If that directory is not on your PATH, open a new terminal after installation or add it to your shell configuration. A platform’s asset must be present in the selected release.

Check the installation:

c3pm --version
c3pm toolchain nix status

Choose a Nix backend

The installer reuses an existing Nix installation or sets one up. On Linux, you can also ask c3pm to manage nix-portable:

c3pm toolchain nix use portable

On macOS, use system Nix (c3pm toolchain nix use system). Managed portable Nix and c3pm bundle are Linux-only.

See Installer options for custom locations, unattended installation, and choosing a Nix mode during installation.

Create your first project

Follow the quick start to create a windowed hello world. Its c3c init step requires a C3 compiler on your PATH. You can also start from the SQLite example, which already includes a project file.